After Selection: What Happens Next (2027 Intake)

The Email That Changes Everything

For the September 2027 intake, most Erasmus Mundus selection results arrive between February and May 2027, depending on the programme. Some come as early as late January. The email will typically say something like “Congratulations, you have been selected for the main list” or “You have been placed on the reserve list.” These are two very different outcomes, and we need to talk about both.

If you're on the main list, you have a confirmed scholarship offer and you'll need to act quickly. If you're on the reserve list, you're in a special kind of limbo that deserves its own section — jump to it below.

The moment you receive that main list confirmation, your emotional state will swing from euphoria to mild panic within about 24 hours. The list of things you now need to do is long, the deadlines are tight, and nobody gives you a single consolidated checklist. That's what this page is for.

Acceptance Deadline and Procedure

Once you receive your offer, most programmes give you 7 to 14 days to formally accept. Some give as little as 5 days. This is not a soft deadline — if you don't respond, your spot goes to someone on the reserve list. The acceptance process typically involves three steps.

1. 1
   Sign and return the acceptance letter

   The consortium sends you a formal offer letter or acceptance form. You sign it, scan it, and email it back; some programmes use an online portal instead. Read every word of this document — it contains your obligations, the scholarship terms, and the conditions under which funding can be revoked.

2. 2
   Provide your final documents

   If you applied while still completing your Bachelor's, you'll need to submit your final degree certificate and transcript as soon as they're available. Many programmes set a hard deadline — often June or July — for receiving these. If you can't provide them in time, the offer may be withdrawn.

3. 3
   Decline other offers

   If you hold offers from other Erasmus Mundus programmes, or from other scholarships like Fulbright or Chevening, decline them as soon as you've made your decision. This is both an ethical obligation and a practical one — someone on a reserve list is desperately waiting for that spot.

Medical Clearance Requirements

This catches many students off guard. Several Erasmus Mundus programmes require a medical fitness certificate as part of the post-selection process. The requirements vary by programme and by the countries in your mobility track.

Some countries require specific vaccinations for your student visa. Others need a general health certificate from a licensed physician. A few require a tuberculosis (TB) test, especially if you're coming from a country where TB is prevalent. The consortium must provide insurance coverage for scholarship holders, but you still need to prove you're fit to travel and study before the programme starts.

• Schedule a general health check-up as soon as you accept. Get a signed letter from your doctor stating you're fit for international study.
• Check vaccination requirements for each country in your mobility track. Some EU countries require proof of measles, rubella, or hepatitis B vaccination.
• If you take prescription medication, research whether it's available (and legal) in each country you'll be moving to. Some medications require special import permits.
• Get multiple copies of your medical records translated into English. You'll need them for each country's registration process.

This is the single most time-sensitive task after accepting your offer. If you're a non-EU citizen, you need a student visa or residence permit for your first country — and processing times can be anywhere from 2 weeks to 4 months depending on where you're from and which country you're going to.

Here's the brutal reality: some embassies require in-person appointments that are booked weeks in advance. Some require documents that take weeks to obtain, like apostilled certificates or police clearance. The consortium will provide you with an acceptance letter for the visa application, but everything else is on you.

Do not wait. The number one reason students miss the start of their programme is visa delays.

Book your embassy appointment the same week you accept the offer. If the embassy in your country doesn't handle visas for your first destination country, you may need to travel to a neighbouring country's embassy. A 2024 survey by the Erasmus Mundus Association found that visa issues caused “stress and potential setbacks” for many non-EU respondents.

Also prepare mentally for the paperwork in your second country — and possibly a third. Each country has different requirements, processing times and bureaucratic cultures. Our Visa Guide covers country-specific timelines and the EU mobility rules in detail.

Finding housing remotely in a city you've never visited, in a country where you don't speak the language, with a budget that's already stretched thin — this is one of the most stressful parts of the Erasmus Mundus experience. And it starts before you even arrive.

Some consortia help more than others. A few programmes have partnerships with student housing providers and can guarantee you a room for the first semester. Many don't. You'll be searching on platforms like HousingAnywhere, Spotahome, or local equivalents, paying deposits sight-unseen, and hoping the photos match reality.

Do this

• Ask the consortium coordinator if student accommodation is available.
• Join Facebook groups for your destination city (e.g. “Housing in Barcelona for Students”).
• Connect with current Erasmus Mundus students in the same programme via social media.
• Budget for 1–2 months' deposit upfront.
• Book temporary accommodation (hostel, Airbnb) for your first 1–2 weeks as a safety net.

Avoid this

• Don't sign a 12-month lease — you'll be moving in 4–6 months.
• Don't wire money without verifying the landlord or agency is legitimate.
• Don't assume the consortium will sort it out for you.
• Don't wait until you arrive — student cities fill up fast in summer.
• Don't forget to check whether the lease allows you to register your address (required for residence permits).

For housing costs, strategies and scam warnings, see our Housing guide. And check Living Costs to understand whether the €1,400 monthly stipend will actually cover rent in your city.

Pre-Departure Orientation by the Consortium

Most Erasmus Mundus consortia organise some form of pre-departure orientation, though the format and quality vary enormously between programmes. Some hold online sessions in June or July. Others send you a welcome pack with PDF guides. A few — the really well-organised ones — host an in-person orientation week at the first host university in September, right before classes begin. A typical orientation covers three things.

If your programme doesn't offer a formal orientation, create your own. Reach out to your cohort via the programme's mailing list or WhatsApp group (someone will start one). Connect with alumni from previous cohorts — most are happy to share advice. The Erasmus Mundus Association (EMA) also has resources and local chapters that can help.

What to Pack When You'll Move Every 4 Months

This is where the Erasmus Mundus experience diverges sharply from any other Master's programme. You're not moving to one city for two years. You're moving to a new country every semester. Everything you own needs to fit in what you can carry on a budget airline — because that's how most students travel between countries.

“Home becomes a suitcase with few personal objects, always ready for the next move.” — Erasmus Mundus alumni survey, 2024

The practical advice from hundreds of alumni is remarkably consistent: pack less than you think you need. Here's a realistic packing strategy.

Read our During Scholarship guide for more on what life actually looks like once you're living this nomadic reality.

The Reserve List: The Agonizing Wait

If your email says “reserve list” instead of “main list,” you're in what many alumni describe as the most psychologically difficult phase of the entire Erasmus Mundus process. You've been deemed good enough to be selected — but only if someone above you drops out.

Here's how it works: the consortium offers scholarships to its main list candidates first. Those candidates have a deadline to accept or decline. If someone declines (because they chose a different programme, got a different scholarship, or changed their plans), the consortium moves down to the reserve list. This can continue from February all the way through August or even September — sometimes just weeks before the programme starts.

The hardest part: you have no idea where you are on the reserve list. Most programmes don't tell you your position. You don't know if you're #1 (likely to get in) or #30 (almost certainly not). You can't plan your life or fully commit to alternatives. Many students describe these months as emotionally exhausting — checking email constantly, unable to concentrate on anything else.

What to do while on the reserve list

1. 1
   Don't put your life on hold entirely

   Continue with your backup plans. If you have a job, keep working. If you have other university admissions, don't decline them yet. You can accept a different offer and withdraw later if Erasmus Mundus comes through — just check the withdrawal policies and any financial penalties.

2. 2
   Prepare as if you'll be selected

   Start gathering visa documents, researching housing and getting your finances in order. If you're called up from the reserve list, you'll have very little time. Students called up in July or August sometimes have just 4–6 weeks before classes start.

3. 3
   Politely follow up — once

   It's acceptable to send one polite email to the consortium coordinator asking about reserve list movement. Don't email every week; they're busy, and pestering won't help. One follow-up in May or June is reasonable.

4. 4
   Consider the self-funded option

   Some programmes offer self-funded admission to reserve list candidates: you're admitted but without the EU scholarship. Tuition is set by each consortium and is often around €9,000 to €33,600 for the full programme by our estimate, depending on the programme and your nationality. Read our Self-Funded Option guide to see whether it makes financial sense.

5. 5
   Set a personal deadline

   Decide in advance: “If I haven't heard by [date], I will move forward with [alternative plan].” This protects your mental health and gives you a sense of control. Many people choose 1 August as their cutoff, since starting visa processes after that for a September start becomes nearly impossible.

If the reserve list doesn't work out, don't despair. You can reapply next cycle with an even stronger application. And there are other excellent scholarships worth considering — see our Alternatives page for options like Fulbright, Chevening and DAAD.

Your Post-Selection Checklist

Here's a consolidated timeline of everything you need to do between receiving your offer and arriving in your first country in September 2027. Print it out. Put it on your wall. The next few months are a sprint.

1. 1
   Week 1

   Accept and begin the visa

   Sign and return the acceptance letter. Decline other offers. Book an embassy appointment for your visa. Schedule a medical check-up. Join your cohort's WhatsApp or Telegram group.

2. 2
   Weeks 2–4

   Documents and housing

   Submit final degree documents if required. Start the housing search for your first semester. Gather visa documents (police clearance, financial proof, passport photos). Get vaccinations if needed.

3. 3
   Month 2

   Financial preparation

   Open a European bank account if possible (some allow remote opening). Set aside personal savings for the first month before the stipend arrives. Research phone plans for your first country. Book a one-way flight.

4. 4
   Month 3

   Finalise everything

   Attend pre-departure orientation (if offered). Confirm housing or book temporary accommodation. Pack (see the packing table above). Say your goodbyes. Take a deep breath.

5. Departure

   You're doing this

   Board the plane. Arrive in your first country. Begin registration, open your bank account in person, get your residence permit and find your way to campus. The Erasmus Mundus journey has officially started.

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